(Truro) – The Hamm government’s consultation forums on the future of continuing care in Nova Scotia must seriously consider the views of frontline workers who provide those services.
That suggestion comes today from Danny Cavanagh, the president of CUPE Nova Scotia. CUPE represents some 3,500 workers in the continuing care and long term care sectors.
Says Cavanagh, “While we are pleased to see that government is consulting with the people who are receiving continuing-care services, this will be a flawed process if the views of workers in the sector – and their unions – are not taking into account.
“CUPE represents long term care workers in 35 nursing homes in Nova Scotia as well as workers with half a dozen home care agencies.
“For years now, we’ve been saying that many of these facilities cannot meet mandated standards of care because of under-funding and under-staffing. Any meaningful approach to drafting new care standards requires input from CUPE and other continuing care unions in the province,” says Cavanagh.
CUPE says it will be consulting with its members and locals in the sector then submitting a brief to government on the issue.
For information:
Danny Cavanagh
President, CUPE Nova Scotia
(902) 899-0775 (Cell)
John McCracken
CUPE Communications Representative
(902) 455-4180 (o)
cope491
